Christie's to Auction Mickey Cartin Collection in 2026
The expansive private collection will go to market through a series of international auctions beginning in November 2026.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Collecting
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Beginning in November 2026, Christie's will sell more than 80 items from the personal collection of Mickey Cartin. The series of over 10 auctions will take place in London, Paris, and New York, with an expected total value of $8 million.
Why it matters
The sale highlights a unique approach to private collecting that prioritizes individual objects and broad thematic interests over traditional art-historical boundaries. The auction series spans works ranging from rare 16th-century books to contemporary paintings.
Estimated values include $180,000 to $250,000 for a 1950 Giorgio de Chirico self-portrait and $200,000 to $300,000 for a Walton Ford watercolor. Additionally, a 1517 copy of Theuerdank is estimated at £100,000 to £150,000.
The players
Mickey Cartin
He is a 78-year-old collector who began assembling his diverse array of art and historical objects in 1988.
Christie's
It is a world-renowned British auction house founded in 1766 that specializes in the sale of fine art, antiques, and collectibles.
Jacques Goudstikker
He was a prominent Dutch Jewish art dealer whose collection was seized by Nazis during World War II.
The details
Mickey Cartin, now 78, began his collection in 1988, eventually amassing objects that include a 15th-century panel painting titled Resurrection of Christ, which was previously held at the Rijksmuseum and restituted to the heirs of Jacques Goudstikker. The items reflect a collection style that ignores conventional categories, moving between historical texts like Georg Bartisch's 1583 Ophthalmodouleia and modern works.
Timeline
November 2026 marks the beginning of the auction series.
July 2027 serves as the conclusion of the auction series.
Culture Shift
The inclusion of the Resurrection of Christ panel highlights the ongoing impact of the restitution of the Jacques Goudstikker collection on current art market provenance standards. This sale marks a departure from traditional collections by following the pattern of thematic, rather than categorical, accumulation.
Collectors and enthusiasts can track individual lot listings as Christie's releases the schedules for the upcoming international events. Prospective buyers should note that items will be dispersed across three major global markets, requiring coordination for viewing or bidding.
The takeaway
Collectors often curate based on deep personal thematic interests rather than strict market categories, creating unique assemblages that tell a specific story. Potential bidders should prepare for a lengthy acquisition process as the series will unfold over several months between 2026 and 2027.
Further reading
Explore more about the evolving art market in our Collecting section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ARTnews.
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